The mercury’s rising across the country, and with the rising temperature comes increased risk of a potentially fatal illness: heat stroke.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office released reports Monday which show five deaths last week could be heat related. Heat-related deaths were also reported in La Crosse, Lone Rock and Janesville, and the death of an Onalaska man is also being investigated as possibly related to the heat.

Family and friends should always check in with loved ones living with mental illness to ensure their safety. Disturbingly, individuals with mental illness may be particularly susceptible to heat stroke.

Certain medications, including anti-psychotics and anti-cholinergics, are known to increase the risk for heat stroke because they inhibit the body’s ability to regulate its temperature. Psychiatric medications—particularly antipsychotics, lithium and topirmate—affect the body’s ability to stay cool by causing a decrease in sweating, promoting fluid loss and dehydration, or changing how people experience heat; i.e., they may not even feel heat.

Additionally, people with mental illnesses who live in low-income housing without air conditioning are also at an increased risk for heat stroke. This combination can be dangerous; According to NAMI, during a 1999 heat wave in Cincinnati, Ohio, almost half of the 18 heat-related deaths were individuals with a mental illness. The Ohio Department of Mental Health provides this information.

Heatstroke is the most severe of the heat-related illnesses, and is a medical emergency. It occurs when the body’s temperature-regulating system breaks down. The victim can’t sweat and is unable to cool himself. Internal body temperature can rise as high as 108 degrees, which can cause irreversible brain damage and death. High internal temperatures can injure almost every organ, including the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, and muscle. It can cause permanent disability and even death.

A few facts about heat stroke:

It’s more likely when the outside temperature is very hot. A heat wave is defined by the National Weather Service as three or more consecutive days of temperatures at or above 90°F (32.2°C ).

Aurora Behavioral Health Services offers complete mental health treatment options, provided by highly trained professionals in a caring, confidential manner to meet individual and family needs. If you or someone you know needs help, contact us — online or by phone at 1–877–666–7223 — as soon as possible.